Faith as a Grain of Mustard: The Common Cold & Last Minue Miracles

April 27, 2014

Hola!

So I have almost nothing of worth to write for this week, due to the fact that I spent most of the week sleeping. The common cold is rough but I got SLAMMED this week and my persistent companion, district leader, and zone leaders refused to let me out on the street until I felt better. But I´m finally back on my feet so that’s what matters :)

We had interviews with the Presidente da Missão! It was really neat. It’s kind of cool, because our Presidente started his mission right around the same time as me, and he´s changed a lot in the past few months as well. He really focused on how we need to work with the members if we actually want to see miracles in the mission field, because that’s what the profeta wants us to do!

We got two new sisters living with us! One of them, Sister Young, is from NASHUA STAKE!!!! That’s right! NH ftw! Mom, she’s like best friends with Parker Ayer. How cool is that? Sister Acosta is from Rio Grande do Sul and I don’t think I’ve laughed so hard in my life. She´s incredible.

You know what’s the laziest, possibly the worst part of the week of a missionary? Sunday nights. You already feel like you´ve done everything there is to be done in the week. Sad, but true. So last night its 8:45 and we were SO CLOSE to our house with literally nothing to do for the last 15 minutes. But we said a prayer that we could find someone who needed us. Not going to lie, the week was a little rough so my faith was practically non-existent BUT then we met Oscar. He was sitting on the front steps of his house and was a little wary when we came up to talk to him, but then he started to open up. He said that he quit drinking, fez 8 months, but he lost his family, his jobs, and his friends because of his addiction. He just hurts so much. We explained that there is a way to take away all the feelings of guilt and sorrow that he has - truly repent, turn your life over to Christ, and be baptized for the remission of sins. I cried as we bore testimony of the miracle of the cleansing ordinance of baptism. He accepted! To prepare for a baptismal date next month! We read in the Book of Mormon with him and explained that it is the best source of peace we have, that it can help us feel closer to God and gave it to him. He was so grateful, promised to read it that very night. We marked to come back on Tuesday and he said he wanted to invite his brother who is struggling with an alcohol addiction to see if we can help him too.

Every single minute on the mission is precious. Never waste your time - there are ALWAYS people that need your help. Even at 8:45 on a Sunday night. It’s really when we give the last bit of effort we have that the miracles happen. Now, I am SO excited to teach Oscar! Please keep him in your prayers!

I love you all very much :)

Sister Carroll